MCSO: Cockfighting operation uncovered in Anthony

Published: Thursday, March 20, 2014 at 3:53 p.m.

Last Modified: Thursday, March 20, 2014 at 3:53 p.m.

A couple of aggressive dogs may have led authorities to their owner's cockfighting operation in Anthony earlier this month.

The dogs' owner, Haniel Garcia, 42, was arrested Wednesday on two counts of selling, possessing or using animals to fight or bait, according to the Marion County Sheriff's Office.

On March 10, a sheriff's deputy went to the area of Northeast 41st Court and Northeast 86th Lane following a report of two bulldogs attacking two horses in a pasture. The deputy saw dog tracks and followed them to a home in the 8200 block of Northeast 41st Court, according to an MCSO report.

He saw Garcia in the backyard.

Another deputy arrived, and they talked with Garcia, who told them he owned three bulldogs and that they were in the backyard. According to the report, he gave deputies permission to look at the dogs.

At the back, they found two bulldogs matching the descriptions of those that attacked the horses.

As one of the deputies was notifying Marion County Animal Services, the other noticed a large square pen with open wire sides and a green shade cloth covering the top. Inside were several roosters in individual cages. The deputies also found a circular structure in the middle of the pen.

Other sheriff's officials were called to the scene.

Garcia told them the chickens — which, like the dogs, belonged to him — were show chickens and that he did not use them for cockfighting.

Investigators took pictures and recorded video of the area, which also contained several small leather boots that authorities said are used to cover roosters' spurs during training.

The next day, when officials returned, the roosters were gone and the large pen was destroyed, according to the report. Garcia also was not there.

The Sheriff's Office obtained a warrant for his arrest, and he was taken into custody on Wednesday. He has since been released from jail on $4,000 bond.

<p>A couple of aggressive dogs may have led authorities to their owner's cockfighting operation in Anthony earlier this month.</p><p>The dogs' owner, Haniel Garcia, 42, was arrested Wednesday on two counts of selling, possessing or using animals to fight or bait, according to the Marion County Sheriff's Office.</p><p>On March 10, a sheriff's deputy went to the area of Northeast 41st Court and Northeast 86th Lane following a report of two bulldogs attacking two horses in a pasture. The deputy saw dog tracks and followed them to a home in the 8200 block of Northeast 41st Court, according to an MCSO report.</p><p>He saw Garcia in the backyard.</p><p>Another deputy arrived, and they talked with Garcia, who told them he owned three bulldogs and that they were in the backyard. According to the report, he gave deputies permission to look at the dogs.</p><p>At the back, they found two bulldogs matching the descriptions of those that attacked the horses.</p><p>As one of the deputies was notifying Marion County Animal Services, the other noticed a large square pen with open wire sides and a green shade cloth covering the top. Inside were several roosters in individual cages. The deputies also found a circular structure in the middle of the pen.</p><p>Other sheriff's officials were called to the scene.</p><p>Garcia told them the chickens — which, like the dogs, belonged to him — were show chickens and that he did not use them for cockfighting.</p><p>Investigators took pictures and recorded video of the area, which also contained several small leather boots that authorities said are used to cover roosters' spurs during training.</p><p>The next day, when officials returned, the roosters were gone and the large pen was destroyed, according to the report. Garcia also was not there.</p><p>The Sheriff's Office obtained a warrant for his arrest, and he was taken into custody on Wednesday. He has since been released from jail on $4,000 bond.</p>